Sayer smiled at the sight of Holt wearing her favorite emerald green pantsuit. Her helmet of hair was perfect, her jowls set in a firm line.
The attorney general stood at the mic until the room quieted. “I’ve called you here today to announce that, as our corruption investigation continues, we will be restructuring the FBI and implementing safeguards at all intelligence agencies to ensure better oversight. To help with the restructuring, I am naming Janice Holt as the director of the FBI. After being forced out by Anderson last year, we are confident that Director Holt can guide the FBI to an honorable future.”
Reporters began to shout questions.
The attorney general held up his hands. “We won’t be answering any questions today. We will be releasing a redacted version of the report to the public soon and will keep you up-to-date as the investigation unfolds. For today, I just wanted to announce Director Holt’s new position and to reassure the American public that we are on top of this investigation. Thank you.”
As Holt followed the attorney general from the stage, a tooth-baring grin flashed across her face.
Sayer turned the TV off, smiling as well.
“Hot damn, if that’s not poetic justice, I don’t know what is!” Ezra threw back his head and laughed.
“I wonder how big this shake-up is going to be,” Tino said.
“Huge, I think,” Ezra said as he got back to the pile of boards on the floor.
“What do you think, Sayer? Did Jake tell you how far this goes?” Max asked.
She thought for a moment. “I think Ezra’s right. Even though Anderson only really had ten or so agents completely off the books, he had hundreds of lackeys at the agency. And it sounds like he had more than two dozen members of Congress in his pocket. Not to mention two Supreme Court justices and who knows how many other high-ranking intelligence officers on his payroll. That’s a lot of corruption to weed out. I think this might be the biggest shake-up in D.C. history…”
Adi emerged from her room again to finish Sayer’s sentence. “And you all will come out smelling like roses. It’s a sunny day. We’re together setting up our beautiful new place. And we’re about to eat some of Tino’s cooking. Plus, Nana will be here any minute.”
Adi’s cheer was contagious. Tino hurried to the kitchen and returned a minute later with a tray of bright green avocado margaritas to hand out to Max, Ezra, and Sayer. He handed a virgin margarita to Adi and picked up his own.
They all raised a glass together.
“To our new home!” Sayer said.
“New home!” Everyone cheered and took a sip just as someone knocked lightly at the door.
“Nana!” they all called out, caught up in the cheering moment.
Sayer hurried to open the door. Though she had been traveling all day, Nana positively glowed. Between her windblown hair, suntanned cheeks, and dancing eyes, she looked ten years younger than she had just a week ago.
The two women stepped into each other’s arms for a hug.
“I’m so sorry about Jake,” Nana whispered.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Sayer said.
Nana took Sayer’s shoulders and held her at arm’s length. “You all right?”
Sayer nodded. Even though it had only been a few days, Jake’s death felt different now. Without the cloud of mystery hanging around the cause, and knowing that he died doing something important, made it somehow less painful than before.
Only then did Sayer notice the tall, silver-haired gentleman standing patiently in the doorway behind Nana. He wore a light gray suit that matched his hair. He held an old-fashioned hat in his hands and his handsome face was creased with laugh lines.
Nana released Sayer’s arms and turned to the man. “Let me introduce you to Bastian. He’s the doctor I mentioned on the phone. He had to come to D.C. for a conference so we flew back together…” Nana trailed off and flushed slightly.
Sayer blinked in surprise at Nana’s flustered babbling, but then let out a laugh as she realized that Nana was truly smitten.
Bastian smiled broadly, bowed his head, and reached for Sayer’s hand. “Hello, Sayer,” he said with a low rumble as they shook. “What a pleasure it is to finally meet you.”
Sayer froze, blood turning to ice in her veins. She stood, unable to move, holding the hand of the man she knew without a doubt was Subject 037.
Also by Ellison Cooper
Caged
Buried
About the Author
Ellison Cooper has a Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA, with a background in archaeology, cultural neuroscience, ancient religion, colonialism, and human rights. She has conducted fieldwork in Central America, West Africa, Micronesia, and Western Europe. She has worked as a murder investigator in Washington, D.C., and is a certified K9 Search and Rescue Federal Disaster Worker. She now lives in California with her husband and son. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Author’s Note and Acknowledgments
District of Columbia Police Department Dispatch Center, Washington, D.C.
Georgetown University Lecture Hall, Georgetown, D.C.
Road to The National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.
Albert Einstein Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Road to FBI Headquarters, Quantico, VA
FBI Command Center, Quantico, Va
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Sayer Altair’s Apartment, Alexandria, VA
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Route 1 to Woodbridge, VA
Abandoned Gas Station, Woodbridge, VA
Unknown Location
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Woodbridge, VA
Abandoned Gas Station, Woodbridge, VA
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Family Conference Room, Quantico, VA
Unknown Location
FBI Command Center Conference Room, Quantico, VA
Unknown Location
Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, MD
Unknown Location
Road to Field Command Center, Lorton, VA
Unknown Location
Field Command Center, Lorton, VA
Telegraph Road, Lorton, VA
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA
Unknown Location
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Washington Monument, National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Unknown Location
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Road to Sayer’s Apartment, Alexandria, VA
Unknown Location
Sayer’s Apartment, Alexandria, VA
Jackie Windsor’s House, Falls Church, VA
Unknown Location
Sayer’s Office, Quantico, VA
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Road to The Hearing Voices Institute, Great Falls, VA
Unknown Location
Dr. Lilenhammer’s Office, The Hearing Voices Institute, Great Falls, VA
Unknown Location
The Hearing Voices Institute, Great Falls, VA
Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA
The Wharf Marina, Southwest Washington, D.C.
Andrew Mellon Memorial Fountain, Washington, D.C.
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Road to Alexandria, VA
Tino’s Apartment, Alexandria, VA
Sayer’s Apartment, Alexandria, VA
Unknown Location
Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, V
A
Tino’s Room, Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA
Recovery Village, Vienna, VA
FBI Command Center, Quantico, VA
Unknown Location
Sayer’s Apartment, Alexandria, VA
Holt’s Boat, Marina, Southwest Washington, D.C.
Holt’s Boat, Marina, Southwest Washington, D.C.
Holt’s Boat, Marina, Southwest Washington, D.C.
Unknown Location
Road to Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA
In Front of Sayer’s Old Apartment, Alexandria, VA
Holt’s Boat, Marina, Southwest Washington, D.C.
Road to Fairfax Hospital, Falls Church, VA
Holt’s Boat, Marina, Southwest Washington, D.C.
Mcmillan Sand Filtration Site, Washington, D.C.
Tomb, Mcmillan Sand Filtration Site, Washington, D.C.
Road to Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
Mcmillan Sand Filtration Site, Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
Mcmillan Sand Filtration Site, Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
United States Department of Justice Building, Washington, D.C.
Road to Tino’s New House, Alexandria, VA
Sayer’s Guest Cottage, Alexandria, VA
Also by Ellison Cooper
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
First published in the United States by Minotaur Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Publishing Group
CUT TO THE BONE. Copyright © 2020 by Ellison Cooper. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
www.minotaurbooks.com
Cover design: Pete Garceau
Cover photograph: Washington, D.C. © WIN-Initiative/Getty Images
The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:
Names: Cooper, Ellison, author.
Title: Cut to the bone : a novel / Ellison Cooper.
Description: First Edition. | New York : Minotaur Books, 2020.
Identifiers: LCCN 2019055346 | ISBN 9781250173898 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250173911 (ebook)
Subjects: GSAFD: Suspense fiction.
Classification: LCC PS3603.O582623 C88 2020 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019055346
eISBN 9781250173911
Our ebooks may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by email at [email protected].
First Edition: 2020
Cut to the Bone Page 28